Media Industry Stable: 2002 Census findings
13 December 2002
The third annual Employment Census by Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the audio visual industries, recorded the highest response to date, with 840 companies taking part. A 100% response rate was achieved amongst broadcasters. The census is the key measurement of the Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media Industries, quantifying the workforce make up by sector and occupational area. It was conducted on Census Day, 26 June 2002.
The Census estimates that a total of 150,000 people were working on Census Day, around a quarter of whom were freelance, and shows that employment levels within broadcast TV (around 25,000), broadcast radio (around 21,000), and independent production (around 13,000) have remained relatively stable. Taking into account the estimated number of freelancers not working on Census Day, this indicates a total workforce of over 200,000. However, some employers have announced job cuts since Census Day.
Between 2000-2002 the overall number of ethnic minorities working across the industry rose from 5.4 per% to 8.6% among employees and from 6.4% to 7.3% among freelancers. The increase of minority ethnic group representation has been most marked in the Broadcast TV and Radio sector where levels amongst employees increased from 6.3% to 7.9% and amongst freelancers from 6.9% to 7.8% over two years. However, sectors hit hardest by the downturn have experienced drops in the proportion of minority ethnic groups. Within the permanently employed workforce, Facilities saw a fall in representation to 4.5% with commercials decreasing to 0.3%.
Skillset Chair Clive Jones, Chief Executive of Carlton TV, and joint MD of ITV, said:"The overall increase is encouraging and reflects the significant progress made by initiatives such as the Skillset Millennium Awards and the industry wide Cultural Diversity Network. However, when you remind yourself that ethnic minorities make up a quarter of the working population in London, where most of the industry is based, its obvious more work needs to be done. The figures show the industry has taken a positive step forward but to really change things increasing diversity needs to be at the top of the agenda."
Although there has been little change in the overall percentage representation of women across the workforce, remaining at 38%, the number of women working as freelancers has jumped 8% to 42%.
Barbara Benedek, Chair of Women in Film and Television said:
"It's good to see the growth in numbers of women working as freelancers. Because women are often responsible for caring for children and the family, it is important that they don't lose out in the freelance world, particularly in areas such as training, employment rights and financial security. Having attracted new talent to the industry we must ensure we keep and encourage it "
The proportion of women working in each sector varies from around a quarter of employees in interactive media and facilities to around half in broadcast TV and radio. There are also major differences by occupational area with women dominating in production, costume, wardrobe, make up and hairdressing but representation falling to around 10 per cent in camera, lighting, sound and special effects.
Census 2002 Trends
· On Census Day only 1,524 people were recorded as working on film productions, reflecting the small number of films in production at that point. The snapshot methodology of the Census is less appropriate for the Film Industry that other sectors and these figures should accordingly be treated with caution. Skillset and the Film Council are currently working together on a major research project focusing solely on film. Results will be published next year.
· The commercials sector, which is predominantly freelance, has seen relative stability in terms of the small number of people permanently employed, but major fluctuations in use of freelancers. Following a drop between 2000 and 2001, the number used in 2002 has increased, but not to anywhere near the level in 2000. The implication is that although the majority of companies may have survived the past two years, most have been less busy, providing less work for freelancers.
· Previous versions of the census counted people working in 'facilities' but did not break them down into sub-sectors. This year, figures are available separately for studios/equipment hire (around 3,300), post production (around 4,600) and effects (around 300). Overall employment in this sector as a whole decreased dramatically between 2000 and 2001, a trend which has continued in 2002 but to a lesser extent.
· Figures are available for the first time on sub sectors within the interactive media industry, with around 15,200 working in web design companies, 8,000 in computer games (development and production), and around 23,000 in CD Rom production and other types of interactive media. The apparent major increase in the size of this industry between 2000 and 2001 was due to a widening of the scope of the survey rather than a real rise.
-ENDS-
For more information please contact the Skillset Press Office:
Contact: Eve Ragout 020 7520 5752 / 07968 010 325 eve@skillset.org
Notes to Editor 1. Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the audio visual industries. Audio visual industries in this context means, the Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media Industries. Skillset was the first Sector Skills Council to be licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and by Ministers in the devolved administrations in 2002 to tackle the skills and productivity challenge. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are independent, UK wide organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance. SSCs are employer-led and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the sector.
The third annual Employment Census by Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the audio visual industries, recorded the highest response to date, with 840 companies taking part. A 100% response rate was achieved amongst broadcasters. The census is the key measurement of the Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media Industries, quantifying the workforce make up by sector and occupational area. It was conducted on Census Day, 26 June 2002.
The Census estimates that a total of 150,000 people were working on Census Day, around a quarter of whom were freelance, and shows that employment levels within broadcast TV (around 25,000), broadcast radio (around 21,000), and independent production (around 13,000) have remained relatively stable. Taking into account the estimated number of freelancers not working on Census Day, this indicates a total workforce of over 200,000. However, some employers have announced job cuts since Census Day.
Between 2000-2002 the overall number of ethnic minorities working across the industry rose from 5.4 per% to 8.6% among employees and from 6.4% to 7.3% among freelancers. The increase of minority ethnic group representation has been most marked in the Broadcast TV and Radio sector where levels amongst employees increased from 6.3% to 7.9% and amongst freelancers from 6.9% to 7.8% over two years. However, sectors hit hardest by the downturn have experienced drops in the proportion of minority ethnic groups. Within the permanently employed workforce, Facilities saw a fall in representation to 4.5% with commercials decreasing to 0.3%.
Skillset Chair Clive Jones, Chief Executive of Carlton TV, and joint MD of ITV, said:"The overall increase is encouraging and reflects the significant progress made by initiatives such as the Skillset Millennium Awards and the industry wide Cultural Diversity Network. However, when you remind yourself that ethnic minorities make up a quarter of the working population in London, where most of the industry is based, its obvious more work needs to be done. The figures show the industry has taken a positive step forward but to really change things increasing diversity needs to be at the top of the agenda."
Although there has been little change in the overall percentage representation of women across the workforce, remaining at 38%, the number of women working as freelancers has jumped 8% to 42%.
Barbara Benedek, Chair of Women in Film and Television said:
"It's good to see the growth in numbers of women working as freelancers. Because women are often responsible for caring for children and the family, it is important that they don't lose out in the freelance world, particularly in areas such as training, employment rights and financial security. Having attracted new talent to the industry we must ensure we keep and encourage it "
The proportion of women working in each sector varies from around a quarter of employees in interactive media and facilities to around half in broadcast TV and radio. There are also major differences by occupational area with women dominating in production, costume, wardrobe, make up and hairdressing but representation falling to around 10 per cent in camera, lighting, sound and special effects.
Census 2002 Trends
· On Census Day only 1,524 people were recorded as working on film productions, reflecting the small number of films in production at that point. The snapshot methodology of the Census is less appropriate for the Film Industry that other sectors and these figures should accordingly be treated with caution. Skillset and the Film Council are currently working together on a major research project focusing solely on film. Results will be published next year.
· The commercials sector, which is predominantly freelance, has seen relative stability in terms of the small number of people permanently employed, but major fluctuations in use of freelancers. Following a drop between 2000 and 2001, the number used in 2002 has increased, but not to anywhere near the level in 2000. The implication is that although the majority of companies may have survived the past two years, most have been less busy, providing less work for freelancers.
· Previous versions of the census counted people working in 'facilities' but did not break them down into sub-sectors. This year, figures are available separately for studios/equipment hire (around 3,300), post production (around 4,600) and effects (around 300). Overall employment in this sector as a whole decreased dramatically between 2000 and 2001, a trend which has continued in 2002 but to a lesser extent.
· Figures are available for the first time on sub sectors within the interactive media industry, with around 15,200 working in web design companies, 8,000 in computer games (development and production), and around 23,000 in CD Rom production and other types of interactive media. The apparent major increase in the size of this industry between 2000 and 2001 was due to a widening of the scope of the survey rather than a real rise.
-ENDS-
For more information please contact the Skillset Press Office:
Contact: Eve Ragout 020 7520 5752 / 07968 010 325 eve@skillset.org
Notes to Editor 1. Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the audio visual industries. Audio visual industries in this context means, the Broadcast, Film, Video and Interactive Media Industries. Skillset was the first Sector Skills Council to be licensed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and by Ministers in the devolved administrations in 2002 to tackle the skills and productivity challenge. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are independent, UK wide organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance. SSCs are employer-led and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the sector.